Russell McVeagh

Russell McVeagh
Headquarters Auckland, New Zealand
No. of offices 2
No. of lawyers 250+
No. of employees 400+
Major practice areas Competition, Corporate, Employment, Finance, Litigation, Property, Resource Management, Public Law and Tax
Key people Pip Greenwood (Chairman), Gary McDiarmid (CEO)
Date founded 1863
Founder John Benjamin Russell
Slogan New Zealand's Premier Law Firm
Website
www.russellmcveagh.com

Russell McVeagh is a leading New Zealand law firm with offices in both Auckland and Wellington. It is considered to be one of the "big three" law firms along with Bell Gully and Chapman Tripp.

History

Russell McVeagh is one of the oldest established law practices in New Zealand, celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2013. The firm was established as a one-man practice by John Benjamin Russell in 1863. He was joined by various partners until he was succeeded at the firm by his son Edward in 1893.

In 1904, Robert McVeagh joined the partnership and remained involved in the firm until his death in 1944. In 1969 the firm merged with McKenzie & Bartleet to become Russell McVeagh McKenzie Bartleet & Co, the name it held until 2000, when it became known simply as Russell McVeagh.

In 1988, the firm established its Wellington office with four founding partners - meaning that in 2013 the firm is also celebrating the 25th birthday of its Wellington office. Over the years Russell McVeagh has been involved in a number of high-profile transactions and cases, from the growth of the Auckland Harbour port in the late 1800s; shipping rights in the early 1900s; playing a leading role in the aftermath of the Erebus tragedy; following the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior in the 1980s; and right up to the creation and evolution of New Zealand's largest company, Fonterra. The firm appointed its first female partner in 1987 and established its first website in 1995, one of the first law firms in New Zealand to do so.

From its beginnings as a one-man practice, the firm has grown to a two-office, 41-partner firm acting on behalf of some of the country's largest and most influential companies.[1]

The first job of politician Winston Peters after graduating in 1974 was with Russell McVeagh; he stayed for about three years, but became involved in politics.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Russell McVeagh (2013). "About Us - History". Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  2. ↑ Hames, Martin Winston First: The unauthorised account of Winston Peters’ career p7 (1995, Random House Auckland) ISBN 1 86941 257 5
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